The big attraction at Leopardstown tomorrow probably won't even have to compete, as the star mare Solerina is being lined up for a post-race gallop ahead of her attempt on the Stayers Hurdle.
The annual pre-festival series of workouts always attracts a lot of attention, and it should be no exception this time despite the meeting coming a week earlier than normal.
"We are keen to get Solerina there provided the ground is safe and racing goes ahead," said Michael Bowe, son of permit holder James Bowe, yesterday. "That is mainly because we missed out on the Boyne Hurdle and this will be good exercise for her. It helps that Gary (Hutchinson) will be there to ride, and we don't want to leave any stone unturned with her on the run up to Cheltenham."
Bowe reports that Solerina has fully recovered from the slight bug that kept her out of that Boyne Hurdle at Navan a fortnight ago, and, ahead of her potentially epic clash with Baracouda and Iris's Gift, there will be plenty of eyes trained on her in the evening gloom.
With Clonmel also scheduled to race tomorrow, many trainers are waiting until the last moment before deciding if they will send some of their star names to the Dublin track, but Willie Mullins has already signalled his intention to send horses and hasn't ruled out giving Florida Pearl a pre-Gold Cup blow out.
Jim Culloty travels from Britain to give his Grand National mount Timbera a spin in the Listed Mick Holly Chase, where other Aintree prospects, Macs Gildoran and The Bunny Boiler, also figure at the top of the handicap. It could pay, however, to keep an eye on the course and distance winner Rheindross at the other end of the scales.
The bumper is an intriguing contest with Gollum and Albert Mooney reopposing, Goolum representing No Complications form and Willie Mullins introducing yet another newcomer that has to be respected, Nazari.
But it looks worthwhile giving Jungle King another shot despite the opposition. Nothing went right for Tom Taaffe's horse on his debut behind High Tech Made, losing ground at the start and then stumbling when in contention.
Paul Carberry is an interesting booking for Mesmeric in the maiden hurdle, given that the champion jockey was on board the highly-touted Point Barrow when that one fell on his jumping debut. Mesmeric was rated 100 plus on the flat in Britain and ran with real promise on his first hurdles start at Naas behind Windemere.
Three Mirrors is something of a tearaway, having shown such an aversion to the horse box on his previous start that he was walked to Gowran Park for his last race. Even then he sweated up dramatically but still had enough left to make all from Quel Doun and Power Elite. If he has learned to calm down a little, this opposition may not see the way he goes in the Ballsbridge Hurdle.
Down at Clonmel, Coast to Coast, who was disqualified at Down Royal last time, should score in the opener, while Come In Moscow looks up to completing a quick double having won at Limerick on Wednesday.
